Chapter 35: The Spanish Military Academy Has Opened

Just as Gao Da was engrossed in the massive expansion of his royal industries, Prime Minister Primo hurried over, bringing Gao Da what might be bad news: the Basque separatists and the Carlists had formed a partnership.

It was inevitable for the separatists and the Carlists to mingle, as their individual strength was negligible compared to Spain, and they could not possibly pose a threat to the Spanish government.

But if the separatists of Catalonia and the Basque Country were to join forces with the Carlists to launch a rebellion, the sensation caused in the northern regions of Spain would be quite significant.

These rebels were spread across the Catalonia, Basque, and Navarre regions, and the neighboring regions of Aragon and La Rioja would also be affected.

However, this was also good news for Gao Da. The few most troublesome rebel factions in Spain had gathered together; wasn't this the perfect opportunity to wipe them all out at once?

"How is the government's preparation? Can our army handle the union of the Basques and the Carlists?" Gao Da looked toward Primo and asked the question he cared about most.

"The Spanish army will crush all enemies of Spain; neither the Carlists nor the Basques will be an exception," Primo replied with a calm expression.

"Very good, Mr. Prime Minister. I will wait for your good news at the Wang Gong, and I hope the day of our victory is not far off." Hearing Primo's calm reply, Gao Da nodded with great satisfaction.

As Gao Da's captain of the palace guard, Qiaodi had naturally also heard the news of the rebellion in northern Spain.

After spending a long time together, Qiaodi had long since decided to be loyal to Gao Da, and naturally wanted to share Gao Da's worries regarding the rebellion in Spain.

"Your Majesty, the Red-Clad Army currently still has a scale of tens of thousands, and can be quickly conscripted into an army. As long as Your Majesty needs it, I believe my father would also be willing to lead the army to come and help Your Majesty, to thoroughly resolve this rebellion in northern Spain," Qiaodi proactively proposed to Gao Da.

"The situation in Spain is not yet that dire." Gao Da certainly understood Qiaodi's loyalty, but the internal strife in Spain had not yet reached the point of needing outside interference.

"Very well, Your Majesty." Hearing that Gao Da was not yet willing to request the help of the Red-Clad Army, Qiaodi could only nod helplessly.

"But you have reminded me, Qiaodi," Gao Da said with a smile. "Since the Carlists have decided to resist my rule, I must not sit idly by and wait for death.

It is time to let all Spaniards and the Carlists understand that the Bourbon dynasty is long gone; now is the era of Savoy.

I, Gao Da of the Savoy dynasty, am the master of Spain, the true King of Spain."

"Qiaodi, I need you to do me a favor; this matter is perhaps something only you can do." Gao Da wore a smile, as if thinking of something worth mentioning.

"I am willing to serve Your Majesty." Qiaodi stepped forward to listen to Gao Da's plan.

A few days later, a rumor spread in Madrid that their King, Gao Da, would be giving a speech at the plaza in the center of Madrid.

Although the rumor did not specify the content of the speech, judging by recent events in Spain, the speech was likely intended to stabilize the morale of the Spanish military and the people.

Such rumors quickly attracted the attention of a large number of Madrid citizens, including workers who had benefited from the implementation of the labor law and farmers who had benefited from agricultural tax cuts.

It must be said that thanks to the agricultural tax cut act and the labor law, two welfare decrees, Gao Da still had decent prestige and support in Madrid.

Time quickly arrived at the day of Gao Da's speech; the plaza in the center of Madrid was a sea of people, with at least ten thousand people arriving around the plaza.

Centered on the podium, there were not many people within a range of several dozen meters. To ensure Gao Da's safety, those allowed to enter within a few dozen meters of the podium had been screened, which could largely guarantee that no reactionary assassins would mix among them.

At noon, Gao Da's carriage arrived slowly and drove straight toward the podium along a pre-reserved path.

Wearing a crown and a custom-made king's robe, Gao Da stepped off the carriage with the help of guards and walked straight toward the podium.

The podium had already been equipped with sound amplification equipment to ensure that Gao Da's speech could be heard by most people in the plaza.

As for those too far away or truly hard of hearing, there was no help for it. Perhaps they could learn the content of Gao Da's speech in the subsequent newspaper reports, or understand the gist through the relay of those nearby.

"My subjects, I am your King, Gao Da.

It is an honor to be the King of this great Spanish nation and to witness with you all the resurgence of this great country of Spain.

Perhaps some will ask, what qualifications do I have to make Spain achieve a resurgence?

Spain once stood at the pinnacle of the world; the Spanish people were once the greatest nation in the world. Wanting to make Spain reappear its former glory is truly too difficult, and the process of resurgence is destined to be full of difficulties.

But I want to say, I have confidence, confidence to witness all of this happen with all Spaniards. The reason Spain is great is not because Spain once stood at the pinnacle of the world.

It is because the Spanish people, after experiencing long periods of hardship and low points, still firmly believe that Spain is the greatest nation and still maintain the hope of Spain's resurgence.

The agricultural tax cut act and the labor law are only the first step. I will use more decrees to promote Spain's progress, protect the interests of all Spaniards from infringement, let Spain achieve industrialization, and move toward strength.

We have already dealt with the capitalists who exploited the workers, and we are currently fighting against enemies who attempt to tear this country apart.

My subjects, please believe in me. I will lead Spain toward strength, I will ensure the interests of all Spaniards are not infringed upon, I will be the enemy of all who block Spain's progress, take pride in the great Spain and the Spanish people, and create a prosperous age belonging to all Spaniards.

Subjects, although the glory of the past is no longer here, the future still belongs to Spain, to all Spaniards.

Please let us shout together the slogan 'Make Spain Great Again' and let Spain achieve a great resurgence once more!"

"Make Spain Great Again!"

Only sincere speeches can move people. For Gao Da, what he said was what he truly wanted to achieve in his heart, and this was also what the Spanish people most wanted to hear.

Precisely because of this, after Gao Da shouted that slogan, the Spaniards under the stage immediately followed suit, shouting: "Make Spain Great Again!" "Long live Spain!" and other slogans; the scene was incredibly lively.

Bang! Bang bang!

Suddenly, several consecutive gunshots immediately interrupted the cheers of the crowd.

People looked up in surprise; a puff of white smoke emerged from the place closest to the podium.

And on the podium, several guards had already rushed toward Gao Da, blocking in front of him.

The guards under the podium also reacted in time, quickly locking onto the person who fired from the smoke and carrying out an arrest.

"There's an assassin!"

"Your Majesty is injured!"

"Protect Your Majesty!"

The panicked voices of the guards and the shouts of the people below were in chaos, and the situation seemed to be spiraling out of control.

Protected by the guards, Gao Da stood up again, and in the surprised gaze of everyone, raised his right arm and shouted: "Nothing can knock me down! Long live Spain!"

At this, the scene was completely out of control.

The people below saw that the assassin had been subdued, and the panic in their hearts dissipated slightly. Seeing Gao Da stand up again to encourage the crowd despite seemingly being shot, the emotions of the people could no longer be suppressed.

"Long live Spain! Long live King Gao Da!"

"Long live Spain! Long live King Gao Da!"

Hearing the enthusiastic cheers of the people below, Gao Da seemed unable to hold on any longer and fell into the arms of the guards.

The guards immediately carried Gao Da onto the carriage and headed to the nearest hospital in Madrid.

Make Spain Great Again!

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(End of chapter)